Renewable energy up

摘要

In 2009, the EPO received 1,259 patent applications in the wind, hydraulic, photovoltaic, solar thermal and biomass energy sectors, a 27% increase over the previous year. The office notes that the 116 applications relating to water power were only a small proportion of all applications filed but that their number has risen steadily over the last five years and grew by 26% in 2009. Many companies from a wide range of countries, particularly in Europe, are active in this field.